Sandiganbayan drafting new rules to speed up flood control anomaly cases

The Sandiganbayan is currently drafting new rules to expedite the filing of criminal cases and clear old dockets.

These new rules are being prepared in anticipation of cases to be filed by the Ombudsman concerning alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Econg stated that the new expedited procedure rules will be pilot tested once approved by the Supreme Court.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that his office plans to file the first information regarding the flood control controversy next month.

The Ombudsman received a complaint from the Department of Public Works and Highways on September 11, naming former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Representative Henry Alcantara, former Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, Construction Section Chief John Michael Ramos, and Planning and Design Section Chief Ernesto Galang, along with 15 other individuals.

Private contractors Cezarah Sarah Discaya and Ma. Angeline Rimando of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, Sally Santos of SYMS Construction Trading, Mark Allan Arevalo, Wawao Builders, and Robert Imperio of IM Construction Corp. are also implicated in the complaint.